These Democrats — 15 governors, members of Congress and state party leaders — say Mr. Obama has yet to convert his popularity among many Americans into solutions to crucial electoral challenges: showing ownership of an issue, like economic stewardship or national security; winning over supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton; and minimizing his race and experience level as concerns for voters.

And while Dems blame the vagueness of his message, the republicans have a sharper idea

“I think Senator Obama is a motivational speaker, but at the end of the day I don’t think that will translate into votes,

or maybe that guy in a van down by the lake

democrats now try the tack the GOP used with Bush in 2000 – “he may not have experience, but he’ll have experienced people helping him”

choosing a seasoned party leader as his running mate would help Mr. Obama in the fall if he is unable to fully allay voters’ uncertainty that a one-term senator is ready for the presidency.

“The one area he still needs credibility in is experience, and picking an Evan Bayh or a Joe Biden as vice president would help a lot with that,” said John B. Breaux, a former Democratic senator from Louisiana. “It wouldn’t be bad if he came out early and said who his secretary of defense and secretary of state would be — that would address and stabilize the concerns about his experience.”

Of course, we all know how this turned out – with factions over factions fighting about war and peace with an incompetent Bush not sure whom to support…And I think people might remember it – as it’s still ongoing…So sharpen the message away boys, if the primaries taught us anything is that the more people get to know Obama the more they’ll vote for his opponent

First, the meeting was national. People came from across the United States. It’s not easy to create a national movement overnight. PUMA’s have accomplished something very challenging when they convince people from coast to coast to assemble in one place.

Second, there is a nascent reform movement in the Democratic Party. The “outsiders” may ridicule PUMA, but something happened this week to afford Clinton a name on the convention ballot as well as a prime-time speaking engagement. Dick Morris on Hannity and Colmes called these concessions an Obama disaster. Why did Obama’s people give in? They realize that there is sustained opposition out there. PUMA’s may not have the internal party power to have a conventional impact, but they can act as a focal point for others to concentrate their own energy and opposition.

Fiorina, a prominent female supporter of McCain, fired back at Dean. “It is disappointing to see Howard Dean trying to use gender and race to divide voters,” Fiorina said Friday evening in a statement released by the McCain campaign. “His comments are insulting, inappropriate and have no place in this election.”

“”If you look at folks of color, even women, they’re more successful in the Democratic party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the [laughs] Republican party.”

dear chairman reveals his view of women as second class citizens.

Which reminds me of this story:

one of the founders of Real democrats said she had a conversation with Dean (which eventually led to his saying publicly: “the media was sexist, too bad I didn’t have cable” During that conversation Howie told her: I know women are 58% of the party and I told Obama they will be trouble”

If the second earner, who in many cases is the woman, is going to have to give 54% of what she earns to the government, she might as well stay home with the children. Mr. Obama may be able to get away with symbolic slights to women, such as not picking Senator Clinton as vice president. But punishing them with confiscatory taxes for participating in the workforce at a high income level moves the slight into the realm of substance.

Like it or not, Howard Dean has just made the claim that if you are white, you are A) racist and B) Republican, your actual acts and deeds in this world not withstanding. The only way to be relieved of this taint is to vote Obama. Not even Democrat – you must vote for Obama. If Obama should fail at the polls, then all “white” Americans stand indicted for racism because that is the only way he can fail and the only reason for failing to vote for The Precious is you’re just a racist white Republican at heart.

Barack Obama dusted off a Ronald Reagan line from the past at his recent meeting with religious leaders in Chicago. In a 1980 convention of Evangelical Ministers Reagan once famously said, “I know you can’t endorse me, but I endorse you.”

Update – after the show(down)

The kind prediction from the media cheerleaders before the event that B0 may make new recruits amongst the fundies didn’t exactly come true. The reviews, reactions from the audience proved that it was McCain who solidified his base last night while B0 merely provided new fodder for jokes – when answering that “when life begins is above his pay grade”

Also, the man who told Wesley Clark to stay away from Denver said the wisest people in his life are M0. the typical white grandma and …Sam Nunn. And He’d rely on Dick Lugar on foreign policy.Made the audience happy with “marriage is between a man and a woman”

But the funniest moment to me was :

Obama said the most gut-wrenching decision of his life was to vote against the Iraq War.

Earth to Barry: you didn’t. You weren’t in the senate, OK? Stop believing your own press.

The press reactions were: McCain was direct, Bo was nuanced” MSNBC said McCain had the best night ever.

Oborg reactions: “He did great. Besides, no one watches this thing” “it was a trap”complete with illustrations:

and “I was surprised McCain didn’t blow it more”, polls as to weather McCain will get a bump in the polls from this, “media coverage of this is OBSCENE (stunning disrespect for Barack.), “Mccain knew about the questions!!!”*

And now Hillary Clinton — 1,920 delegates by The Times’ final count. This is an extraordinary breakthrough.

But Gail cannot contain her spiteful glee:

And yet, when the delegates actually call out their votes in Denver, it’s likely that the numbers will look more like Margaret Chase Smith redux.

She doesn’t explain why that is – they make Hillary release her delegates before the vote, while B0’s stay pledged

She acknowledges PUMAs will remain undaunted – we get a new interesting name

Everybody is not going to be appeased. PUMA, or People United Means Action, is an excellent example of the Ossetia branch of the Hillary camp.

you get it? the little resistance that will be bombed by the big guys – long live unity!

Murphy is acrimoniously quoted re: our resolution. But happily the pony will run over us bombing us along the way:

Yes, down in the grass-roots, there are still some sullen stalks. But the vast majority of Hillaryites seem prepared to accept the new accord as an indication that their heroine will get the proper respect. The tanks have turned around.